Putin intends to undermine NATO - Jt. Chiefs Chairman Dempsey

Russia is seeking to “discredit and eventually undermine” NATO, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey said in an interview published shortly after President Vladimir Putin said only a madman would think of Russia as a threat to NATO.

“I can’t tell you, as we sit here today, precisely what Putin
and Russia intend to do,” Dempsey said in the interview to the Wall Street
Journal. “They have demonstrated some behaviors outside the
international order that clearly indicate that they are willing
to push beyond what most of the nations with whom we deal
consider to be international norms.”

Dempsey also called on the NATO allies to “harden against the
subversive activities Russia has demonstrated its willingness to
use.”

“[Putin and Russia] have demonstrated some capabilities with
long-range aviation and with their nuclear forces that are
clearly intended to signal the nations in Europe and us of their
willingness to consider all the instruments of military
power,” Dempsey said.

The comments come shortly after the release of an interview with
Vladimir Putin where he has warned against taking the West’s
“Russian aggression” scaremongering seriously.

“I think that only an insane person and only in a dream can
imagine that Russia would suddenly attack NATO,” Putin said.
“I think some countries are simply taking advantage of
people’s fears with regard to Russia. They just want to play the
role of front-line countries that should receive some
supplementary military, economic, financial or some other
aid.”

The Russian president invited journalists to compare the global
military presence of Russia, on one hand, and that of the US and
NATO, and draw their own conclusions.

“We have dismantled our bases in various regions of the
world, including Cuba, Vietnam, and so on,” Putin said.
“I invite you to publish a world map in your newspaper and to
mark all the US military bases on it. You will see the
difference.”

Dempsey listed “capabilities that do threaten security in
Europe” mentioning among them Russia’s being “very adept
in the media space of propaganda.”

In April, Secretary of State John Kerry asked US lawmakers for
more money for propaganda and “democracy promotion” programs
around the world, having directly referred to RT’s growing
influence. RT’s budget for 2015 is 13.85 billion rubles (some
$277 million, according to the current exchange rate). By
contrast, the US government media receives $721 million.

Among other threats Dempsey mentioned is Russia’s “ability to
conduct snap exercises with conventional forces that can coerce
or at least threaten borders.” The remark comes as military
exercises close to Russian borders are being conducted on a
non-stop basis.

The latest example is a major US-led exercise BALTOPS in the
Baltic Sea, which began June 5. Around 50 vessels from 17
countries, involving overall 5,600 troops, are taking part in
these war-games that are set to last 15 days, to show off NATO’s
ability to protect the region.

In mid-May, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced the
alliance is going to increase its activity at its eastern
borders, with more air and sea patrols, amid non-stop exercises.